Page 123 of Devour

“I was a Talon just like you, Axl. And I have a good idea where you’re going.”

He’s not making any fucking sense. “How in the fuck do you know shit about what we’re doing?”

My father stares back at me. What he says next is going to determine whether he walks out of this room alive. His chest rises, and he lets out a breath. He glances back at the Sinclairs. “Can I talk to my son alone?”

Thorne snorts. “Not a fucking chance.”

He turns to face me, putting his back to them, irritation obvious in his expression.

“I lied before.” He looks over his shoulder at the Sinclairs, probably to make sure they don’t attack him. They all have their arms folded, watching him, and they could decide to kill him at any moment. “What you have to understand, son, is that Travis Keller has been threatening me. He and some of his friends run a trafficking ring, and they tried to recruit me as a partner years ago. I didn’t want any part of it, but he threatened your mother to keep me quiet.” My father runs his hand down his face. “He’s wanted her for a long time, and he has never been happy that he didn’t get her years ago.”

The room is dead silent. Tate unfolds his arms and takes a step forward, but Fox puts a hand on his brother’s chest to urge him to stay back.

“Keep fucking talking,” Fox says, giving my father a flippant wave.

“I knew he was into some fucked-up shit. And Travis threatened to ruin us and take your mother as his own personal sex slave if I didn’t make you marry his daughter. He wanted your connections to the Sinclairs. He thought that you’d be able to tell him what they knew and their next moves.” My father won’t look at anyone except me. “I’ve gone along with this shit and kept my mouth shut to protect your mother. That’s the fucking truth. When I told him that I wouldn’t make you do it and that I’d tell you everything, he arranged to have you killed. He called me to tell me that he killed you.”

I rub my temples where my head is starting to ache. “So you’re saying that Travis organized this. Not Justin Carter.”

“Justin is just an errand boy. He’s been doing shit for them for years. I knew about David Carter’s involvement as well. I just didn’t want any part of it.” My father shifts on his feet. “Travis came after you to get to me, and he used the Carter girl to do it. Justin didn’t want his sister mixed up in their world.”

Priest meets my eye, and I can’t tell what he thinks about all of this. I don’t know if my father knows what Justin has been doing to Saylor, and I’m not giving him any information. He seems to be telling us the truth. But if this Travis fuck wants me dead, he’s not going to be happy to learn his plan failed. If he doesn’t already know. Which only puts Saylor in more danger.

“So what you’re telling me is that your buddy Travis has been trying to get Justin to kill me? And when nothing else worked, he orchestrated the explosion? This seems a bit too convenient, Dad.”

“He’s not a fucking friend, Axl,” my father says through gritted teeth. “I’ve been trying to keep our family safe. Just as anyone in this room would do.” He runs his hands down his face. “Justin only took such a big risk because they are going to let him take his sister and run.”

So he knows that Saylor is alive.

“And how do you know that?” Thorne asks what I was already thinking.

“Travis told me. The Carter family is going to disappear, and I either join the fold or your mother will serve him. He told me where to meet him. I’ve got a feeling it’s the same place you’re planning to go since he told me he’s keeping Saylor there. I came here hoping he lied about you being dead and to ask the Sinclairs for help.”

The room is quiet while everyone processes what my father just dropped. Fox is the first to move. He steps past Tate and gets in my father’s face.

“You’ve known about a trafficking operation for years, and you said nothing to my family.” Fox practically spits the words at him. “My father is fighting for his life because of this bullshit.”

“I did what I needed to do to protect my family.” My father doesn’t back down. “You can settle this with me after. Right now, Travis is expecting me at that building, and I came here in good faith to give you the information that I have.”

I look at Fox, trying to determine if he will let my dad come with us. He gives me a small nod.

“He’s coming with us,” I say. I don’t fully trust my dad and I fucking hate it, but nothing is more important than getting to Saylor. “My father will walk in like he’s doing what Travis instructed. The rest of us will follow inside and take him out.”

“Travis doesn’t leave that building.” Fox turns to my father. “You help us get close to the fucker. After that, stay out of our way.”

I grab my phone and check the tracker one more time. The signal hasn’t moved. She’s still there.

Hold on, little heathen. I’m coming.

“Let’s fucking go.”

CHAPTER 51

SAYLOR

I’ve cried until I can’t anymore. I don’t know if Axl is alive or dead. I don’t know if I’m ever going to see him again. That thought alone is enough to make me want to curl into this mattress and disappear. But if I don’t get myself out of this room, I’ll never fucking know. Because I’ll never trust anything these fucks say.

I’ve gone through every inch of this room looking for something I could use as a weapon. The bathroom has a mirror bolted to the wall, but it wouldn’t break when I pounded my fists into it. Even the lid on the tank of the toilet is sealed shut. The cabinet with the keypad is solid wood and doesn’t budge when I pull at it. I’ve tried every number combination I can think of.